[A homebound status is related to a reduction of meal intake in older outpatients, independent depressive mood and their physical function]

Aim: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency at which patients went out and the reduction of meal intake among older outpatients who did not require care.

Methods: The subjects were outpatients of ≥65 years of age who visited the department of geriatric medicine in our hospital for the first time. We analyzed 463 subjects (male, n=184; female, n=279), after excluding patients who had dementia, required care, lived in a nursing home, or had an acute disease.The outcome measure was the reduction of meal intake (a moderate or higher decrease in the patient's meal intake in the past 3 months). The independent measure was homebound status (going-out less than once a week). The covariates were sex, age, number of medications, and Kihon Checklist (categories of undernutrition, oral function, physical function, and mood). A logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: The average age was 79.6±5.9 years in men, 79.9±6.1 years in women. Among the participants, 104 (22.5%) had a homebound status. In the logistic regression analyses, a homebound status was significantly associated with a reduction in meal intake, even after adjustment for potential confounding factors, including depressive mood and a low physical function (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6).

Conclusions: A homebound status in older outpatients was related to a decline in their meal intake, independent of depressive mood and a low physical function. A reduction in meal intake leads to a lack of energy and results in malnutrition. Our results suggest that assessing the frequency at independently living older outpatients go out is important for the early prevention of malnutrition.